IBC vs. the other guys

[Allisyn Wood]

What a great download from BYAP regarding building an IBC system.  Thanks to all those who contributed their expertise.

 

I have seen a source locally for those for about $100, however, after an exhausting google-fest, it looks like those were made for "one-time use" or very short life spans.  I was wondering if anyone has compared them side by side with some of the other products available (ie: rubbermaid, tuff tubs, etc...) in terms of durability without adding major construction to keep them out of sun. How often have people had to replace them and is it worth saving the $50-$100 if one were to purchase something a little more heavy duty.  I believe Tuff Tubs (TSC) has a 3 year warr on their products.  Of course, this is probably void the first hole you put in it, but the container itself should hold up pretty well to the elements.

 

Once you cut off the top 12" of the IBC, how many gallons are left for fish? (I don't know the actual dimensions of these things, although I know they're 275 gallons uncut.) 

 

Thoughts?

[TCLynx]

I fear the tough tubs might be a bit flexible for gravel beds but they seem fine for a small fingerling tank or small system if temperature won't be a problem.

 

The 100 gallon rubermaids are a bit sturdier (they will bow less) but it is still possible to crack them if you go planting huge banana tress in them!)

 

Protecting an IBC from the sun doesn't have to involve heavy construction, just some appropriate paint on the outside or other material to intercept the UV rays.

 

Make sure you inspect the IBC carefully since if one is already cracked or if the cap or valve is already leaking you would need to deal with that.  IBC's definitely need their support cages and plenty of support under the gravel bed or you are likely to see stress cracks.

 

One thing I will note, just cutting off the top of an IBC to use as a grow bed doesn't really give you enough filtration for the amount of fish tank you have left and such a system has to be stocked very lightly or it will have problems.  Better bet might be to use an entire IBC as the fish tank (that way you can have some freeboard of tank above the water level to help protect fish from jumping out) and get another IBC to cut in half and use as grow beds and that would give a 1:1 growbed to fish tank ratio that would be suitable for reasonably light stocking or if you get a couple extra IBC's you could have one fish tank one sump tank and cut two in half to give 4 nice deep grow beds and allow for fairly heavy stocking for a home Aquaponics system.

 

As to how much water would be left for the fish tank if you cut the top 12 inches off an IBC, well that is a hard one to answer since not all IBC's are the same.

[Don Carter]

The IBC Totes I have are roughly 3.5 feet tall.  Since they are very nearly rectangular, you can figure if you cut off the top 12 inches you will then have (roughly) 30 inches left - or about 5/7 of the initial tank size.  275 gallons times 5/7 would be roughly 200 gallons remaining (and, of course, about 75 gallons of grow bed).

[TCLynx]

Roughly yea

Keep in mind that you will not be filling the fish tank to the rim so you will probably only have somewhere between 100-150 gallons of water in the fish tank.